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A second AFLW season for 2022, ‘Season 7’, begins this week in earnest after Season 6 finished only 4 months ago in April 2022. An exciting Round 1 match-up has Melbourne taking on 3-time champions, the Adelaide Crows, in a Grand Final rematch on Friday night at Glenelg Oval (rescheduled from Norwood Oval due to poor pitch condition). The Season 7 premiership race begins with 4 new teams; Sydney, Essendon, Hawthorn and Port Adelaide as the AFL has rapidly (some say too fast) created an 18-team women’s competition to match the men’s competition. A new AFLW pay-deal announced in May 2022 (94% pay rise) was an important step for the women in their goal of full-time professionalism by 2026. The pundits three most-favoured teams for the premiership are established teams, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Adelaide. The core playing groups of these teams remain intact and largely unaffected by recent expansion club signings. • Melbourne lost Jackie Parry and Shelley Scott to Geelong. Brenna Tarrant headed home to Sydney and both Issy Simmons and Krstel Petrevski joined West Coast. Also Lauren ‘Specky’ Magee went home to Ireland. • Adelaide lost AFLW legend Erin Phillips plus Ange Foley and Justine Mules to Port Adelaide, Nikki Gore to Fremantle, while Jess Sedundary moved to West Coast. New faces joining Melbourne include sharpshooter Sabreena Duffy from Fremantle, young key back Charlotte Wilson from Carlton and the experienced Jordey Ivey from Geelong. New Irish recruit Blaithin Mackin kicked an impressive goal in the practice match at the G less than a week after arriving from Ireland and will be wearing the famous number 31. Adelaide has recruited talented Irish player Niamh Kelly from West Coast. Expect this game will be won around the contest where Adelaide has the big bodies of Hatchard and Marinoff et al and a very experienced backline led by Sarah Allen. Adelaide’s percentage last year was 216.6% which demonstrates their potential scoring dominance and leading goalkicker, ex-Dee Ash Woodland, will be hoping her great form continues. Melbourne comfortably won both their practice games against Essendon and Carlton, but Adelaide will provide a much tougher cont Against Carlton at the G, it was great to see the Dees women showing off their familiar ‘run and carry with skill’ playing style. We look primed for a great season. Purcell and West will be great support in the middle for L Pearce, Zanker and Hanks. Our forward line is full of in-form talent with Harris (hopefully she’s right to go), new vice-captain Kate Hore and the dynamic Bannan. If we can get the ball to the outside (a big if against the Crows) and deliver well, we can win this. This one’s gonna be close! Melbourne by 3 points THE GAME Adelaide v Melbourne at ACH Group Stadium, Glenelg Oval, on Friday 26 August, 2022 at 7:40pm (Melbourne time) HEAD TO HEAD Overall Adelaide 4 wins Melbourne 3 wins At ACH Group Stadium, Glenelg Adelaide 0 wins Melbourne 0 wins The Coaches Clarke 3 wins Stinear 3 wins MEDIA TV live on Seven Network and Kayo. Check your local guides. Radio - check your local guides. THE LAST TIME THEY MET Adelaide 4.5 (29) defeated Melbourne 2.4 (22) at Adelaide Oval, Grand Final, 9 April 2022 Adelaide cemented its claim as the first AFLW dynasty with a 13-point win over Melbourne on a beautiful day in front of their adoring fans at the Adelaide Oval. It was a game of high intensity but Adelaide’s structure around stoppages and in defence were too strong on the day. The Crows Anne Hatchard was a standout all day and won the best-on-ground. Eboni Marinoff and Rachelle Martin were strong in the middle while Danielle Ponter was excellent kicking 2 goals. For the Dees, Alyssa Bannan craftily intercepted a Crows defender backline pass and went on to kick a ripper goal in Q2 to give the Dees hope. Kate Hore scored the only other goal in Q3 and made the difference only 9 points at ¾ time. However, it wasn’t our day and Adelaide were the deserved winners but it was a good season for Melbourne. Our list future looks bright. TEAM SELECTION IN: Gillard, Chaplin (debut), Johnson (club debut), Ivey (club debut) OUT: Scott (traded to Geelong), Goldrick (injured), McNamara (injured), Colvin (injured) Injury List: Round 1 Sinead Goldrick Knee | 1-3 weeks Georgia Gall Foot | 6-8 weeks Gab Colvin Knee | Season Eliza McNamara Back | Season Rhi Watt Knee | Season